House Lawmakers Take Another Look At "Dark Money" This Week

Should the State of Texas be able to track contributions from 501 (c) (4) political nonprofits? This week a select committee of House lawmakers will discuss the possibility of legislation that could track this political "dark money" ahead of the 2015 session.

During the 2013 regular session, a bi-partisan effort to pass a bill that would require political nonprofit organizations to report their campaign contributions was vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry. In February, Austin lobbyist and attorney Steve Bresnan re-kindled that issue by convincing the Texas Ethic Commission to hear public comment on this very same rulemaking.

“The rule establishes a presumption that if you give me money and I use it in an election, then you gave me a campaign contribution," Bresnan said. "And under Texas law it would have to be disclosed -- your name, address, profession -- just like what happens with political action committees.”

That same effort is being explored this week by the Texas House interim Committee on State Affairs. Lawmakers will study what types of groups are exempt from reporting requirements in the Texas Election Code and make recommendations on how to make the political process more transparent.

Bresnan said currently only political action committees and individuals are required to disclose their donations.

"Right now the PACs and dark money groups are doing exactly the same thing but one is not being required to do what the other’s being required to do," Bresnan said.

Bresnan said making this law would allow Texas voters to see who is swaying a candidate’s campaign platform.

“Because they will know who’s contributing money in the elections that’s effecting all of our lives,” Bresnan said.

The group of House lawmakers will hear public testimony on the issue on Thursday, May 1, at the state capitol.

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Greg Abbott’s campaign announced last week it would begin accepting bitcoin contributions, but with the fluctuating value of the currency many political experts see the move as more of a way for Abbott to attract a certain type of supporter.

Abbott wrote in a memo:

“The spirit of Bitcoin embodies the free market principles that make Texas a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship.”

The Texas Ethics Commission has approved a rulemaking request on "dark money" disclosure from an Austin lobbyist.

Austin lobbyist Steve Bresnen, along with a political watchdog group, are taking a back-door approach to creating a rule that would reveal all of the money that is used to influence elected officials and their decisions.

Likely Republican nominee Greg Abbott’s ability to raise money continues to dominate the 2014 race for governor. Abbott’s campaign raised over three times the amount of money Wendy Davis’ campaign was able to collect in January.

In the last three months of 2013, Democratic candidate Davis’ campaign had taken in more money than Abbott during the last three months of the year. That celebration was short-lived as Abbott’s campaign showed they were able to raise more than $3 million dollars in January -- Davis’ campaign raised just under $1 million.

Texas Matters: Wendy Davis and Greg Abbott released fundraising numbers this week, leading to a bigger conversation about the cost of campaigning in Texas, which considering the size of the state and inclusion of two of the top 10 media markets is expensive to say the least. Also on this show: Marijuana in Texas, prescription drugs from Mexico, ACA navigators and Google invests in a Texas wind farm.